Alazar nodded and signaled the guard to let the General in. There was no point in asking anyone else’s opinion after the Katana decided. General Didyk marched stiffly into the chamber, his hat under his arm. His lips tried to form a smile, but his square face had more the look of rock than flesh. His hair was cut short and was black with a single streak of white running through it. He paraded towards the table and halted noisily behind Doharte’s empty chair, as if it was already his to occupy.
“General Didyk,” smiled Alazar, “thank you for coming to address the Council today. It is a sad occasion for all of us that we must meet to replace one of our own. Your record is excellent and this Council will take your advice seriously. We know that the army has many fine generals such as yourself and it is a credit to all of you that you work so well together. I would like you to recommend three people that possess the proper qualities to replace Minister Doharte.”
The only sign of distress from the general was a slight twitching of one eye, but Alazar smiled when he saw it. “Three?” Didyk questioned. “I feel that I am the obvious choice for the position. I thought that was why I was asked here.”
Asgarte cringed when Alazar glared at him. “General,” the First Minister smiled, “I am not aware of what you thought, but I am aware of the needs of the Council. You have the finest military record of anyone I have ever known, but the duties of the Minister of Defense are not of the same quality as war battles. I can assure you that we expect your name to be one of the three you recommend, but we do need two more.”
A slight hint of a scowl showed on Didyk’s face. “If I were to die today,” General Didyk stated, “only General Valdey or General Romero would be acceptable.”
“I see,” Alazar said. “Both of the General’s you mentioned also have distinguished careers. I feel that you have chosen well from the army’s viewpoint. Are there questions from the Ministers before we allow the General to leave?”
Nobody spoke and Alazar indicated that the General should leave. The First Minster waited until the door was closed before speaking. “I think General Didyk is a good choice,” he announced and saw Asgarte’s face smile. “I also agree with the General that Valdey and Romero are good choices as well. Together they are the finest Generals this nation has ever seen. I would hate to see them working at odds with each other. The pity is, that is what we may face if we choose one over the other.”
Asgarte’s face clouded with confusion, but it was the Holy Katana who spoke. “What do you mean?” asked the Katana. “Do you fear that whoever we choose, the other two may try to make him look bad?”
“That and more,” Alazar explained. “There are some important items to discuss today that will have an impact on our decision for replacing Doharte. While the items may be interpreted differently by others, it is clear to me that we may be going to war soon. If I am right, and you may say if, this nation is going to need the finest generals we can get out in the field. The duties of the Minister of Defense are much less demanding than those of a general. As long as the new minister reflects the needs of the army, he need not be one of our best generals.”
“You mean not to choose any of the three?” the Minister of Finance asked.
“Correct,” smiled Alazar. “We have many generals in the army. A great number of them would make an excellent Minister of Defense. They all know the army well. They all want to represent it fairly. Let’s face it, we do not pick the best farmer for Minister of Agriculture or the best merchant for Minister of Trade. We should choose a general who can fit in well with the rest of us and leave the battlefield generals in the battlefield.”
“I suppose you have already selected such a general?” posed Asgarte.
“Not really,” answered Alazar. “I have spent a great deal of time thinking about it though and reviewing their files. I am merely suggesting that we discuss them all and select one from the less distinguished ranks.”
The First Minister saw nods of approval from most of those present. He felt a shiver of jubilation race up his spine. The majority was ready to take the easy way out and the rest would follow their lead in a moment.
“Good,” declared the First Minister. “I have a list of twenty lesser generals whose appointment to this Council would fulfill our needs.”
“Twenty?” coughed the Minister Finance. “That could take all day. Why such a long list? Can’t you narrow it down?”
“If we are agreeing to choose a lesser general,” interjected the Minister of Trade, “why do we care which one it is? Just pick the first one. You said they were all qualified.”
“I agree,” the defeated Minister of Agriculture stated. “The Minister of Defense is only one seat on this Council and we have more immediate problems to discuss. If they are all qualified then it doesn’t really matter which one we choose. I vote for the first one on the list.”
Murmurs of assent spread around the table and Alazar reached over and picked up the list he had passed around the table.
“Very well,” he sighed. “I have tried to produce the best list I could, but I do agree that we have some pressing items to discuss. Let’s see. Kapla. General Kapla is the lucky man. All those in favor of selecting General Kapla, raise their hand.”
The vote was unanimous with the exception of the Katana. Many times the Katana chose not to vote and sometimes he did. The First Minister assumed that this was one of the times he chose not to and signaled the guard to summon General Kapla.
“I think we should start on the reports now,” Alazar commanded. “I know we have some disparaging news on all fronts. Minister of Agriculture, would you begin please.”
Minister Asgarte rose. “I am sure that most of you are aware of the devastation in Campanil. The watula loss there was practically complete. Just before harvest was the worst time that this could have occurred because it leaves no time for planting additional fields and supplies were already low. The Campanil area supplies over 60% of the watula in Omunga and the destruction will be felt everywhere. I am working now to have fields cultivated in other areas of the country in case the Sakovans continue to attack Campanil. The residents of Campanil are reluctant to work the fields for fear of more attacks.”
Asgarte glanced to the empty seat and shook his head. “I had planned to ask the Minister of Defense today to increase the troop strength in the Campanil area so that we could get workers back out to those fields, but I guess that will have to wait for the new Minister. We are reacting as swiftly as we can and I will have a more detailed report of our progress at the next meeting.”
The Minister of Finance rose next and detailed how the destruction at Campanil would affect not only that local economy, but the national economy as well. As the price of watula rose, other goods would rise with it as competition for food increased. He noted that tax revenues would be lost because of the destruction and the expenses would increase if they had to supply more troops to the area.
Towards the end of the Minister of Finance’s talk, General Kapla arrived and quietly took the empty seat. The Minister of Finance completed his report and then the Council welcomed its newest member. Minister of Defense, Kapla, nodded his thanks as the Minister of Trade rose to give his report.
The Minister of Trade reported that food shipments traveling the roads would increase dramatically and with that increase would come a greater risk of highway thievery. He cautioned that if they did not increase the military presence on the nation’s roads that food theft would become their biggest problem.
When the Minister of Trade finished, Alazar rose. “Ministers,” he addressed, “we have heard very disparaging reports today and they all point to serious problems facing this country if we do not increase the military presence at various points around the nation. I concur with these requests, but they do not address the real problem facing Omunga. The carnage at Campanil has hurt this country greatly, but I feel it is only the opening gambit for a much greater threat to us. With one single attack, the Sakovans have reigned havoc over us. They may try to attack Campanil again, or they may strike elsewhere without warning. Suppose they destroy the cornfields of Fortaka next? Or attack the wasooki herds around Breele?”